Armed . . . and stupid

THIS is the face of what could be the nation's most stupid armed robber. He burst into a bookie's shop and pointed a handgun at the terrified staff - then he took a bizarre gamble. He was so confident of success that he took off his stocking mask before running out with £3,000.

THIS is the face of what could be the nation's most stupid armed robber.

He burst into a bookie's shop and pointed a handgun at the terrified staff - then he took a bizarre gamble.

He was so confident of success that he took off his stocking mask before running out with £3,000.

A hidden camera took a clear picture of him.

Detectives could not believe their luck.

The raider, in his early 20s, had jumped on the counter and demanded money from the safe and till.

But he must have thought the odds of getting away with the raid at Ladbrokes, in Cross Street, Sale, were too good.

His misplaced confidence could cost him dear.

Quality

Police today published images taken from the camera and appealed for the public to identify the raider.

A police source told the Manchester Evening News: "He was masked for the entire robbery and then, right at the end, he took it off. The quality of the picture is very good. It's almost as if he posed for it."

The robber is described as white and slim. He wore tracksuit bottoms, a blue sweatshirt with a vertical pale blue stripe through it and white trainers.

Staff were shocked but no one was injured in the raid at 10.40am on August 9.

Det Sgt Andy Reynolds, of Altrincham CID, appealed to the public to help catch the raider, and added: "He threatened staff with a handgun and stole the contents of the safe and the till before making off.

"He's obviously a dangerous criminal and he needs to be caught. We are very keen to identify him.

"We would ask anyone who knows who he is to get in touch.

"He was armed with a handgun and so he is a danger to the public. We need to catch him before he strikes again."

Anyone with information is asked to call Altrincham police on 0161 856 7545 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.